Palestinians: The Arabs Betrayed Us - Again

Since 1948, the Arab countries and government have been paying mostly lip service to the Palestinians.

"They have money and oil, but don't care about the Palestinians, even though we are Arabs and Muslims like them. What a Saudi or Qatari sheikh spends in one night in London, Paris or Las Vegas could solve the problem of tens of thousands of Palestinians." — Palestinian human rights activist.

"Some Arabs were hoping that Israel would rid them of Hamas." — Ashraf Salameh, Gaza City.

"Some of the Arab regimes are interested in getting rid of the resistance in order to remove the burden of the Palestinian cause, which threatens the stability of their regimes." — Mustafa al-Sawwaf, Palestinian political analyst.

"Most Arabs are busy these days with bloody battles waged by their leaders, who are struggling to survive. These battles are raging in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya and the Palestinian Authority." — Mohammed al-Musafer, columnist.

"The Arab leaders don't know what they want from the Gaza Strip. They don't even know what they want from Israel." — Yusef Rizka, Hamas official.

Every now and then, the Palestinians are reminded of the fact that most Arabs don't care about them and their problems.

Arab "indifference" and "silence" toward the current war between Israel and Hamas has once again reminded Palestinians of the "betrayal" by their Arab brethren.

It is not that Palestinians were expecting the Arab countries to send their armies to fight Israel and prevent an IDF ground invasion of the Gaza Strip.

Moreover, Palestinians say they were not even expecting the Arab governments to send money and medicine to thousands of families inside the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinians in general and Hamas in particular feel that the Arab world simply does not care about them and does not even want to hear from them.

Some Palestinians argue that the Arab world was perhaps too busy with the 2014 Mondial [Soccer World Cup] or Ramadan feasts to pay enough attention to the war in the Gaza Strip. But the Mondial has ended and most Arabs still don't seem to be interested in what is going on between Palestinians and Israel.

True, there have been some marches in a number of Arab countries in solidarity with the Palestinians and in protest against the war in the Gaza Strip. Still, Palestinians say they are still disappointed at the small number of participants. They are also disappointed that the Arab governments had moved quickly to suppress any show of support for Palestinians.

"The Arab regimes hate us and this is not new," said Palestinian political analyst Ali Hableh. "It took Saudi Arabia seven days to issue a statement condemning the current Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip. Palestinians have always known that they could never rely on their Arab brothers who have turned their backs on us."

For Hableh and many Palestinians, the Arab "betrayal" dates back to 1948, when the state of Israel was created. They are convinced that Arab "collusion" and "treason" contributed to the defeat of the Arab armies and the subsequent creation of Israel.

Since then, the Arab countries and governments have been mostly paying lip service to the Palestinians.

And this is what is exactly happening these days, Palestinians point out.

Almost every Palestinian is today talking about the sense of betrayal by the Arab world. It is a feeling that has increased Palestinians' hostility and mistrust toward their Arab brethren.

Palestinian cartoonist Umaya Juha expressed Palestinian feelings toward the Arab "betrayal" in a drawing that shows an Arab and Islamic arm stabbing a Palestinian woman from the back – while she had also been stabbed in the chest by Israel.

Prominent Palestinian editor Abdel Bari Atwan said it was "shameful" for the Arabs that the UN Security Council convened to discuss the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip before Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo.

The Palestinians, he said, have given up on the Arab leaders and governments a long time ago. He also accused the Arab governments of starving the Palestinians and participating in the blockade on the Gaza Strip.

"The Palestinian people's problem with their Arab brothers is much bigger than their problem with the Israelis," Atwan explained. "The Palestinians can resist Israel and fire rockets at it, but they don't want to do the same against their Arab executioners because they continue to regard them as brothers."

A Palestinian human rights activist in the West Bank also talked about the "historic" betrayal of the Arabs.

"We never expected anything good from the Arabs," he said. "They have money and oil, but don't care about the Palestinians even though we are Arabs and Muslims like them. What a Saudi or Qatari sheikh spends in one night in London, Paris and Las Vegas could solve the problem of tens of thousands of Palestinians. Only an idiot would have expected the Arab world to rise against Israel for attacking the Gaza Strip. We saw more protests in Europe against the war than in the Arab countries."

The sense of being betrayed has driven some Palestinians to openly accuse Arab governments of being part of the "Zionist aggression" on the Gaza Strip.

Sheikh Ekremah Sabri, the former mufti of Jerusalem who currently serves as a leading preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, claimed that the three wars waged by Israel against Hamas have been "coordinated" with the Arab countries.

Sheikh Sabri went on to claim that some Arabs have even covered the expenses of the Israeli military operations.

Voicing widespread resentment and disappointment among Palestinians over Arab "silence," the top Islamic official stated: "The Arabs work for Israel."

It now remains to be seen whether Sheikh Sabri will be permitted to set foot in any Arab country that feels itself targeted by his fiery rhetoric.

Sheikh Ekremah Sabri, the former mufti of Jerusalem and a leading preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, claims that the three wars waged by Israel against Hamas have been "coordinated" with the Arab countries.

As he was speaking abut Arab "betrayal," the Palestine Scholar's Council issued a strongly-worded statement in which it lashed out at the Arab world for failing to take action to save the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

"When will the Arabs wake up? Why aren't the Arabs providing the Gaza Strip with any assistance?" the statement wondered.

"The absence of an Arab response to the aggression is frustrating," Ashraf Salameh, of Gaza City, said. "The aggression has shown that some Arabs were hoping that Israel would rid them of Hamas."

Another Gaza Strip resident, Mohammed Aref, was quoted as saying that Palestinians are very disappointed with the stance of the Arabs and Muslims toward the war in the Gaza Strip. "We didn't expect this silence," he said.

Hamas official Yusef Rizka also denounced the Arab world for failing to help the Palestinians. "Gaza is facing the aggression alone," he complained. "This is the bitter truth. The Arab leaders don't know what they want from the Gaza Strip. They don't even know what they want from Israel."

Jordanian columnist Tamara al-Darawsheh said that the war in the Gaza Strip has seriously embarrassed the Arabs. "As the war continues, we see some marches here and there (in the Arab countries)," she wrote.

"As usual, these marches were suppressed. We didn't hear anything new from the Arabs other than sheepish condemnations. Gaza has embarrassed us, because we have been busy with the Mondial and Ramadan feasts and TV dramas."

Another columnist, Mohammed al-Musafer said that Israel has nothing to worry about as it attacks the Gaza Strip.

"Israel knows that (President Abdel Fattah) Sisi's Egypt is not opposed to the destruction of the spirit of resistance in the Gaza Strip and silencing it for ever," he remarked. "Most Arabs are busy these days with bloody battles waged by their leaders, who are struggling to survive. These battles are raging in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya and the Palestinian Authority."

Hamas and many Palestinians are now convinced more than ever that they could never rely on their Arab brothers for any kind of assistance. In fact, a growing number of Palestinians are beginning to place some Arab regimes on the side of Israel.

According to noted Palestinian political analyst Mustafa al-Sawwaf: "Some of the Arab regimes are interested in getting rid of the resistance in order to remove the burden of the Palestinian cause, which threatens the stability of their regimes."

Another analyst, Adnan Abu Amer, expressed fear that the Arab "silence" has already reached the level of "collusion" with Israel.

He pointed out the failure of the Arab heads of state to hold a summit to discuss the war in the Gaza Strip while many international organizations have been holding meetings to voice solidarity with the Palestinians.

"Some Arab countries don't want to exert pressure on Israel because they want to give it time to achieve its mission and destroy the Gaza Strip," Abu Amer said. "The Arab people are too busy with their own problems and don't have time to put pressure on their regimes. This encourages the Arab governments to remain silent."

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31 Reader Comments

ForAmerica • Feb 19, 2015 at 09:22

The Palestinians are just like the American voters. The former are expecting those with the money and power to help them, when in reality they have been used over and over again. The latter, specifically the ignorant and naive masses who voted for Obama, believe he told the truth when in reality he couldn't give a rat's rear end about them. They, too, were used. Some people just don't learn.

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Beatrix139 • Jul 27, 2014 at 11:32

There is a difference in depth between the comments of Hamdy, an Egyptian, and those of us who are concerned outsiders. He's in Australia right now, but I wish there were more like him in the Mideast who felt free to speak out. Hamas gets support from the imperialistic Iranians, from demagogic Erdogan trying to change the democratic course of his country, the left wing in America and Europe who think it's still the 1960s, and from Qatar. I absolutely don't understand what Qatar gains from this. Or maybe they just have nothing to lose. Obama's America won't criticize them nor will the Arabs. Perhaps they're playing both ends against the middle or three ends against the middle since they also secretly meet with Israel. Qatar seems to be a country with no enemies and no real friends.

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Sally • Jul 24, 2014 at 19:17

The thousands of missiles and drones Hamas sent to destroy Israel are partly Iranian made. Hamas's arsenals are paid for by pro-terrorists organizing to destroy Israel, the USA, and other nations. Jewish people do not want to take orders that parallel more or less, of Hilter or Hitler's close allies and the WWII Holocaust experience of being forced to walk to the gas chambers (again - manifested in this millennium with surrendering to the treachery of Hamas).

Costly and counterproductive propaganda is being fed to the Palestinians - starving them, Hamas, a private army, is known to have rigged entire Palestinian neighborhoods and hospitals so that as the structures explode, so too do Palestinian citizens. Hamas 1) gains media attention focusing on martyrdom and 2) kills Palestinians with whom, theoretically, they are supposed to be ideologically aligned (but nullify this by killing them so wantonly).

Economic problems plague the Palestinian communities. The continuity of a kleptocracy was cultivated within the Palestinian vanguard. Historically, the Palestinian vanguard suffered dramatically - and not from Israel - rather from the kleptocracy within the PLO. Palestinians, especially the women and children have been the last (if ever) to receive financial benefits from funding for well over half a century - funds that were set aside specifically for them. Arafat was notorious for withholding money. Although he was to a limited extent, an investor, much of his cash and the trail of his cash flow was lost or hidden when he died. The PLO gave Arafat's widow at least $7 million as a settlement, over the billions she was given from Arafat. Arafat's money (from other organizations) never ended up in the hands of the PLO or the Palestinian community -nor even Hamas.

Hamas' mercenaries lack the altruism and loyalties fundamental to organizational membership. Ties and bonds promote culture - of which Hamas is bereft. That is why Hamas is so desperate and dangerous - lacking alignment with the cultural dimensions within the Palestinian communities.
Israel does not wish to spend hundreds of hours pinpointing criminals like Hamas involved with jeopardizing the lives of Israeli citizens and Israel's infrastructure. Israel is trying to build a lasting monument of peace and humanity, and friendship among its neighbors.

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Daniel • Jul 22, 2014 at 13:49

Alas the poor Gazans!The Arabs elsewhere have abandoned you!They care mostly about themselves and their own interests!These are the complaints Palestinian leaders voice about the Arab reaction to the woes of Gaza.Are you as surprised as they are at this behavior?

There have been 200,000 Arab deaths in Syria in the current war there. Why should Syrians or other Arabs who live with that lose sleep over a thousand or two deaths in Gaza? The war that Palestinians caused in Lebanon killed many thousands of Lebanese. Should the Arabs of Lebanon be concerned about your troubles? Libya is in chaos. People like your leaders have done hideous things in Iraq. Should anyone care more about you than about the citizens of those countries?

Your allies and friends in Iran and among Islamic extremists threaten many Arab states. Should these states embrace you? What do you offer them? To them you represent the threat of violence and death.Your success would be more terrible to them than your utter destruction.

Most of the Muslim world regards you the way they regard Boko Haram and its supporters. That organization is fighting infidels. Have you done anything for Boko Haram? If not, why do you expect other Muslims to do anything for you?

Perhaps you should realize that thousands each year abandon Islam in reaction to your vile behavior. Few countries of the world, and few Arab countries accept Palestinian immigrants because of that behavior.

You will find that most people including most Arabs, and most nations, pursue what they believe to be in their own interests.

Israel has atomic and other advanced weapons which your behavior has goaded them into developing. It has the potential of protecting Arab states from aggression from Iran. And what have you and your Iranian suppliers to offer those vulnerable states? Nothing but destruction. And yet you expect them to side with you.

Most Arabs pride themselves on their Arabic identity. You and you alone renounced it. The word 'Palestinian' a hundred years ago was used to describe the Jewish inhabitants of the Holy Land. You insisted that you were not mere Arabs but are Palestinians, and so entitled to your own independent government, instead of being merely a part of Egypt. The Israelis gave you your own independence in 2004, withdrawing completely from Gaza, and agreeing to supply your State with water and electricity. Yet you continue to claim, against all evidence, that you are 'occupied', and have converted Gaza into the Boko Haram state of the Middle East.

Your experience with independence has not been a success. The reputation of Palestinians in the world would increase greatly if all of you would suddenly disappear. You are a disgrace to Islam and an embarrassment to the Arab World. Do not forget it.

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Amine Abu Youssef Daniel • Jul 25, 2014 at 11:08

Arabs need to free themselves from these puppet dictators mainly the gulf countries. As long as these kingdoms and sheikdoms exist, Palestine won't be freed. Genuine revolutions need to take place in the Arab world from east to west, these rulers and their families have to be executed the we can speak about freeing Palestine.

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Daniel Amine Abu Youssef • Jul 27, 2014 at 20:11

Here is a solution to the Gaza mess.

Resettle Hamas bigwigs and their supporters (and all other militants) in Qatar.

Give full support for rebuilding a demilitarized Gaza as soon as possible.

If it remains peaceful, productive and demilitarized after an appropriate time let its borders become open.

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Peter Schierau • Jul 22, 2014 at 06:40

Hamas and their brotherhood is being recognized throughout the world as being a terrorist organisation that only conflicts harm to anyone that does not site with them and is the main and only instigator to conflicts not only in Gaza but also in the Arab world.

Why would any Arab leader even consider to sit with them as they know that if they win, it will be a disaster in their own countries. Throughout history it has been proven that extremists will win battles but never wars. Especially since they are killing their own mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children by forcing them to stay in harms way to be killed just so that they possibly can gain the sympathy of the world to condemn Israel.

Thank the Almighty that there is a country that is willing to fight for freedom and right to exist.

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Zlatka Stojadinovic • Jul 22, 2014 at 05:16

What arab leaders want is to avoid the spreed of islamic terrorist groups like Hamas. If palestinians think that Abbas is worried he is not. All arab countries are begging to Israel to finish with Hamas terror group in Gaza because is easier to them to allow Israel do the job that in fact all of them wanted to do and didn't do for those kind of political correct attitude .... For Abbas he knows he is wining the lottery ... he will return to Gaza as the the salvation and one or another he gets his revenge on Hamas terrorist group after what they have done to Fatah in gaza. Meanwile the .. president of Hamas is on holidays with his 4 wives in a 5 stars hotel ... even if he asks for more human shields ... because human shields are good to the business of war ...

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Ron B. • Jul 22, 2014 at 04:08

Of course, I wouldn't expect The Enemy to tell the truth when it comes to Propaganda (wouldn't expect of OURSELVES, tell the truth) but I wonder what non-Muslims think when they hear that, as Israel has been saying, there ARE no such people as "Palestinians": they're Arabs who've disguised themselves as "Palestinians" starting post-6 Day War... What do THEY think when a Palestinian CONFIRMS "We've been Arabs" all along.

As for their voicing "Israeli Aggression", ad infinitum, is NOT 'flying'... even in their "Brothers" lands.

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Barbara Weber • Jul 22, 2014 at 00:07

It is a both a pity & a tragedy, as the article states, that with all the Gulf wealth from oil, that the Palestinians are not given food, education, health and the rebuilding of their country by at least Saudi Arabia, not to mention UAE as a whole. The money that is spent on buildings aspiring to be the tallest & the best in the world, looks ludicrous & down right dishonest in not helping their Muslim brothers in Palestine.

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Daniel Barbara Weber • Jul 27, 2014 at 19:03

Barbara your sympathy is natural, but is it directed at the real problems? The educational level in Gaza (over 90% literacy for both sexes) is high for the Arab world, higher than in Saudi Arabia. Most of the citizens are supplied with food education and medical care free by UNRWA which is paid for by Western countries (including Israel) Gaza life expectancy is among the highest in the Arab world.

Do you think that food health care and education are the key problems?

The government of Gaza has spent (according to published estimates) more than a billion dollars on building tunnels to Israel with the intention of attacking Israeli settlements. It accumulated an estimated 10,000 rockets, about quarter of which have been shot at Israeli citizens and another quarter destroyed. Surely a lack of money for investment and economic development has not been the problem in Gaza.

Could it be that the desire of the Gaza leaders to destroy Israel might be the problem?

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A Local Rabbit • Jul 21, 2014 at 18:56

First, Jews are Palestinians too, and have a millenia long connection to the Land.

Second, "the Arabs" understand what kind of wackos founded Hamas and the kind of psychopaths it attracts.

Third, perhaps an article entitled "Palestinians: Hamas betrayed us again". In spite of having a virtual underground city, no civilians were allowed access during the Israeli bombings. In Israel, civilians had bomb shelters, in Arab-Occupied Gaza, Hamas had bomb shelters there were not intended for civilians. I think that says it all.

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Deadbit • Jul 21, 2014 at 17:19

All going to built elaborate underground tunnels (for terror, not transportation), buy ammunition and making Hamas leaders richer and richer. The Palestinian people should first turn to their chosen leaders and ask why did you trade our future for futile terror against our neighboring Israelis.

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Robert Haymond • Jul 21, 2014 at 15:11

Most Arab countries are plainly fed up with Hamas and some, i.e., Egypt, see them as active enemies. In fact, Arab refugees from what was once known as "Palestine" have caused considerable problems in several Arab states. Nonetheless, the refugee camps have also brought in funding for the ruling regimes so the refugees, still in special camps sixty-five years later, do represent some practical value.

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Lawrence • Jul 21, 2014 at 14:50

I do not need to read this long article. One of the opening lines was that Palestinians are thinking that "the Arabs Betrayed Us Again".

I got bad news for whoever wrote this. The Palestinians Betrayed those Arabs.

Those people who are labeled Palestinians are a collection of seditious rabble that had lived in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Kuwait and lived in revolt against those valid governments, and responded to and joined Fatah in the early Seventies when Black September came to the Mideast and tried to overthrow those Kingdoms of Jordon, Iran and Kuwait, and Lebanon.

Their attempts failed and they were thrown out of their respected countries and it is those seditious cast-offs, and their descendants - that are occupying Gaza and the West Bank.

The Arab Governments did not fail them - they failed their homelands. They betrayed their homelands.

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Clem Alford • Jul 21, 2014 at 14:21

Yes if the Arabs won't help then how can the Europeans be expected to, and I don't mean their governments who tacitly support Israeli Zionism.

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Mark Matthias • Jul 21, 2014 at 13:12

"The Palestinians in general and Hamas in particular feel that the Arab world simply does not care about them and does not even want to hear from them."

Although this article is a fact, we have known this for decades. It never seems to receive the publicity from which Israel can't get away. Of course there are theological reasons involved here; but we will be held responsible for our actions.

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Empress Trudy • Jul 21, 2014 at 12:26

For a hundred years these so-called 'palestinians' have been told to squat in the dust and bang their silver bowls for more alms from the west. For a century nothing has ever in the least been expected of them while everything is excused and apologized for. For decade after decade they've been told by the west that all they have to do is appear miserable on TV like those puppies on the SPCA commercials and not only will the Jews magically be ethnically cleansed, the whole world and everything in it will be theirs for free. They managed to antagonize every single national Arab population in the world, from the Jordanians they tried to overthrow to the Iraqis who were made to suffer to benefit them by Saddam. From Tunisia who was threatened with war for hosting them to Egypt to the Lebanese who blame them for 30 years of bloody civil war and Kuwait who expelled hundreds of thousands of them for their pro Saddam loyalties. Everywhere they go they work to ensure that that will be hated and scapegoated because the west has told them that is the way to lock down their preeminent status as the world's most miserable persecuted losers.

And remember that on THE DAY this mythical 'palestinian' state is ever declared, every single Arab nation will purge itself of every single 'palestinian'. They will tell them to 'return' to their 'homeland' and because every single 'palestinian' in the world is officially a 'refugee' this will create a humanitarian disaster orders of magnitude worse for them then the Nakba they are so much in love with. Of course they will blame the Jews for that too and they will demand the Jews bail them out and the West will pressure the Jews to commit suicide even faster. But sorry to say the 'palestinians' are stuck with the destiny they carved out for themselves on that. Good luck and godspeed.

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Monte Forney B,Sci,JD Empress Trudy • Aug 29, 2014 at 02:19

Palestinians

During our time in the arab world I had the pleasure of knowing a Palestinian gentleman of about thirty years of age. During the years we resided in Taif, Saudi Arabia, this man was a service writer in a local Tire Shop. You may know the drill: first I bought tires for my personal car from a shop who put the tires in the trunk; secondly I drove into desert where a Yemeni working out of a hole in the ground mounted the tires; then on to my friend's place where he wrote the work order; then to a balancing machine were a Saudi in a spotless white thobe switched the machine off and on while his sweating Yemini assistant did all the manual work. While the Yemenis did the rest of the work I joined the service writer for tea on a nearby carpet. In a typical Arabic chat we spent the next hours talking man talk. Complimenting on his fluent English I learned he had earned a masters in English from the University of Riyhadh. Interested, since I had first hand knowledge of how desperate the Kingdom was for competent professional people. I was curious as to why he had not been offered a position in one of the government agencies. He said to take those jobs, for which he had offers, would mean loss of his Palestinian citizenship. I found he was a member of the PLO and was proud to tithe part of his income to the cause. My point is that here was a competent young man who could go a long way if he played his cards right. Naive? Perhaps. But sincere. His people took ton of crap from 1940 on and I admit, the world gives them a lot of guilt induced aid. But look at our own country. Turn off the Welfare State and you will have a push back that will make Watts, Kent State, and Ferguson look like ladies' tea parties. That day may come soon if our government goes bankrupt.

Just an octogeneric Montana Cowboy who has seen all the elephants and earned his spurs the hard way. God Bless America, to include our liberal "useful idiots" (Stalin, 1939)

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John • Jul 21, 2014 at 10:46

The Palestinians have been losing for years and mostly by their own doing. They have been offered/given billions in aid and it has all been funneled into hate and war instead of the people who really need it. The Palestinians have consistently aligned themselves with unsavory groups like Hamas who are closely related to ISIS-like groups. The Arabs are starting to realize that this is not what they need or want but the Palestinians have yet to wake up to this fact.

The Palestinians could have had peace with Israel many years ago but they do not want it.

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Hamdy • Jul 21, 2014 at 10:40

I am an Egyptian (Neither Jewish nor Israeli)

I agree with all of this article. However, I should point to the fact that the blame should fall primarily not on Arabic Governors but on Palestinian leaders.

Has anyone ever asked himself/herself how many chances Palestinian leaders wasted and how many opportunities Palestinian negotiators missed since the start of the conflict?

Moreover, Arabic presidents who tried to encourage Palestinian leaders to be motivated were openly threatened and boldly warned of fateful end to their life. I was a Uni student in Cairo when President Saddat invited Palestinian leaders to go "with him" to Camp David I and Camp David II to partake in the peace process. Not only Saddat's offer was rejected by PLO, but also various PLO fractions raced to declare plans for his assassination. So, Saddat went alone and got Sinai but Palestinians went nowhere and got nothing.

And again, when King Hussein of Jordan accepted Palestinians in 1967, all what he got in return from Palestinian leaders was eight assassination attempts and a vicious civil war on his land to overthrow his kingship, ending with Black September.

And again in Lebanon, Palestinian leaders caused troubles and formed a "state within a state" til Arabic Governments forced the PLO to relocate to Tunisia.

The list goes on and on and it seems endless. But in every incident, it is the Palestinian leaders who betray Palestinian people either intentionally or unintentionally, either out of ignorance or out of arrogance, either out of apathy or out of greed, either out of power-hunger or out of money-hunger.

My advice to Palestinian people:
1) Do not blame Arabic leaders.......blame YOUR political leaders.
2) Do not blame Israelis or Jews.....blame YOUR religious leaders.3) Do not point fingers to others....fix your backyard from selfish leaders.

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Alex Moskovits • Jul 21, 2014 at 10:33

Has it occurred to the Palestinians and the writer of this article, that being brothers, meaning being Muslims and Arabs from the same stock/origin, doesn't necessarily mean unquestioned loyalty, especially to endorse abhorrent behavior performed by idiots. Israel is not at war with the Palestinians and the Gaza Strip, they are at war with a terrorist organization named HAMAS, whose sole reason for being, is the destruction of Israel. HAMAS brought this war to themselves by firing rockets into Israel, and spending significant resources in building tunnels into Israel for the sole purpose of attacking Israel. Hamas has been itching for a fight with Israel to prove they can stand up to a superior force and get their licks in against them, especially after losing (in an embarrassing manner) two previous wars since they took control of Gaza. Arab support is not homogenous......it really depends on the behavior and decisions made by individuals and groups that embellish or embarrass their brethren. In this case Hamas is a total embarrassment to their fellow Arabs.

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Jossef Perl • Jul 21, 2014 at 10:19

The Arab regimes adopted the Palestinian cause as long as it served their domestic purposes. The Arab Spring marked the end to the Arab regimes' ability to exploit the Palestinian cause to justify their incompetence. So they have no more reason to support the Palestinians, particularly not those Palestinians who are Islamist like Hamas. But we also should recognize that the Palestinians are so steeped in their victimhood mentality that they refuse to take responsibility for building their lives and they continue to point to others as the source of their problems.

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Ilana Goldstein • Jul 21, 2014 at 10:10

The Arab countries have not solved the Palestinian refugee problem because the refugees were a result of Arab leaders' defeat in 1948. Arab countries are notorious for blaming others, especially Israel. Now it is Hamas that is blaming others for its reckless rocket launching. Thank you for an excellent article.

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Carl • Jul 21, 2014 at 09:57

Those poor Palestinians. They were expecting a major uprising of all the Arab countries to help them defeat Israel and it is not happening. The only country in the Middle East that is even willing to accept them living on their soil is Israel. They are persona non grata in every Arab country because they cause trouble and insurrection wherever they go. Even the more educated ones have been raised with such hatred for Israel that instead of using their intelligence to help their people get ahead, they direct their minds almost solely to the destruction of Israel. Why are the allies sending financial support to them? Their Arab brothers are more able to give than the allies, but these people are a major embarrassment to them and they will be happy to have them disappear altogether. This conflict will never end until the Palestinians can act like civilized people. Any excuse to shoot rockets into Israel is justifiable to their way of thinking. They started this conflict and their Arab Brothers are willing to let Israel finish it while staying out of it.

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Fred • Jul 21, 2014 at 09:21

It should be clear by now that all the animosity & death the Philistines suffer & the vague support they get from the "Arab brothers" should prompt them to try and give peace with Israel a chance. The may be surprised how much better their lives could be. Hamas and all the Islamic groups are only concerned about personal aggrandisment & couldn't care less for the rest of the "brothers".

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Evelyn • Jul 21, 2014 at 09:17

HIGHLY INTERESTING! We already knew that the "Palestinian People" were only a strategic "creation" of the Arabs, so as to be able to turn the whole world against Israel. A strategic step in order to eliminate the State of Israel. They had expressed it clearly a long time ago... and they never cared a damn about them. Meantime they discovered that they could not destroy Israel (this was their aim) so the "Palestinian People" showed of only as a burden.

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David Walker • Jul 21, 2014 at 08:30

So tell us Abdel Bari Atwan, how many billions did Arafat have in his Swiss bank account when he died of AIDS?

I hear his wife is living like a princess in Paris on the strength of it, how come that seems to have escaped your attention?

Also, "Palestine" is the biggest recipient of foreign aid in the world, why do you spend whatever's left after your rulers have finished stealing it on rockets to fire at Israel?

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Mustapha • Jul 21, 2014 at 07:30

The Arabs in this century have betrayed the illiterate Muslim world for they do not stand by the Shari'a of Muhammad Rasulullah. But it is important that all understand that Allah will not accept the excuse of betrayal in the hereafter. The Palestinians are responsible for their deeds.

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Earl Goldstein • Jul 21, 2014 at 07:25

A bit naive, I know to hope for but Its time the Arab world opened their countries to the Palestinian people from Gaza.Let them grow and prosper in the Sunni states and let Gaza City become a distant memory.After all most the Jews of all the Arab states were persecuted, ostracized, murdered and forced to flee these same Arab states. The same process is increasingly happening to a shrinking Christian population in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq as well as the gulf states.They could be integrated within a month.

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Des • Jul 21, 2014 at 06:00

The aggression is from Gaza against civilians in Israel. The Israelis waited a long time before "firing back". Why would the Arabs be interested in rabble without a cause. All the Pals want is dead Jews. What a life to look forward to, hatred and murder every day. Israelis values life, which is why Pals are treated every day in Israeli hospitals.

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